Music
Review | Jen Elliott: The Secret's Out
Written by: Kage
Alan
Album Rating:
A
The music industry seems
to be spending a great deal of time these days whining about how
downloading music is killing their profits, yet can't come up with a
single concrete study that supports their claim. Perhaps they
need to consider some of the drivel they're pushing the customer's
way. You see, a release should first and foremost be about
talent and quality, not fashion and outer beauty. Believe me,
when I'm not listening to my bouncy Europop dance CDs, I'm looking for
something or someone a little bit different and have I got a debut for
you!
A native of Jacksonville, Florida, 25-year-old Jen Elliott has paid
her dues and is about to release her first CD titled "The
Secret's Out," which also serves as an appropriate announcement
for the artist herself. Based on raw talent alone, Jen attracted
the attention of Julliard graduate Ruth Goodman, a veteran Canadian
opera and radio star. Together, Jen honed her vocal technique
and fashioned an album that combines Rock, Blues and Pop all into one.
The difference here is that the music doesn't overtake Jen's voice,
but rather compliments it by simply letting her do what she does best;
sings.
"Move," the first track, kicks off strong with its driving
beat and powerful vocals. It's almost too strong, only it sets
up the rest of the album beautifully as it moves into slightly
quieter, yet equally soulful, material. "Empty Eyes"
slows down just a bit and offers a Pop feel with Blues vocals while
"I Can't Concentrate" does the complete opposite.
"Love Crazy" is an infectious tune that subconsciously
mellows one out, then lets the melody of "High Love" raise
the adrenalin right back up again.
"Why Can't This Be A Love Song?" keeps the beat and toe
tapping moving along (it's also one of my favorites) before moving on
with the funky grooves of "Dead In My Tracks" and the title
cut, "The Secret's Out". Another one of my favorites
is "Paint It" with its almost Country music like feel, which
is odd because I'm not a huge Country fan by any means. When my
partner turns Country on, I run for the Europop. "Curse On
You" alters the style and tempo once more with a deep rooted
Blues vibe. "Love and the Rebel" slows things down one
final time before closing on a high note with "Pop Blues".
What impresses me most about Jen besides the fact she's also a
songwriter is that she varies her material, delivers vocally on every
track and didn't include a single filler song on the entire album.
I tend to be one of those annoying types who skips around to my
favorites, only not with "The Secret's Out". One of
the perks of this job is being able to hear some of the fresh new
talent before the industry tries to swallow them up and turn them into
the next Britney Spears or "American Idol" contestant.
That's not to say that the singers on that show don't have talent, but
they certainly aren't doing it their way. Jen Elliot is and it
shows.
Editor's Comments: You can listen to a few songs
from the disk in mp3 format:
=> The
Secrets Out
=> A
Curse On You
=> Love
And The Rebel
To purchase CD visit: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/dreamspinner
or http://www.audiolunchbox.com/album?a=1639
|
